Flash-light signal



o Model.) W H. MPSON.

' FLASH LIGHT SIGNAL. v No. 887,932. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS.

'N. PETERS Plmvlilhngnpher. Washington, a, c.

llwrrnn STATES Parser @rrrcn.

NIL-LIAM HENRY THOMPSON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

FLASH -LIGHT SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,932, dated August 11888.

Application filed April 19, 1887. Renewed June 28, 1888. Serial No.278,461. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON, of Richmond, in the countyof Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and ImprovedFlash-Light Signal, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient visualsignaling apparatus that shall be applicable for use in the transmissionof fire-alarm or police signals; and to the end named the inventionconsists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, aswill be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthis specification, in which my improved signaling apparatusisrepresented in diagram, an automatic and a hand signal-operating devicebeing shown in connection with the lamp.

The letters a a indicate the wires of a regular fire-alarm circuit. Theyare shown connected respectively with the post and binding-screw 11 ofan instrument similar to an ordinary relay, but which, in view of itsfunction, I will term the main circuit breaker. From the points 10 and11 the circuit is extended by wires 0 c to an incandescent lamp, 30,having a protecting-globe, 18. The current does not normally passthrough this lamp, but is short-circuited through the instrument -thatis to say, it passes from binding-screw 11 through-post12 to itscontact-point 13, against which an armature-lever, 14, is held by theact-ion of a magnet, 15, the aruiature lever 14: being supported by thepost or standard 10, so that when the magnet 15 is in action and thearmaturelcver in the position in which it is shown in the drawing thecurrent will pass through the post 10, the lever 14, the contact point13, and the post or standard 12.

The coils of the magnet 15 constitute part oi'a closed local circuitformed by wires 1), through battery 16, and breaking-key 17.

Such being the general construction of the signal apparatus, theoperation is as follows: When the current is passing over the main linea, it will pass through the main-circuit breaker 20, as beforedescribed, when the parts are in the position in which they are shown inthe drawing; but if the key 17 be manipulated so as to break thecircuit 1) the magnet 15 will be discharged and a spring, 19, thatisconnected to the armaturelever, will act to move said lever fromengagement with the contact 13, the lever being drawn downward against apiece of insulating material, 21, that is supported by the post orstandard 12, and then the current necessarily has to pass through theextended circuit a and the lamp will be illuminated; but immediatelyupon the closing of the key 17 the current will be discharged andthelamp will be extinguished.

From the above description it will be seen that by the use of aprearranged code of signalssuch as the one at present employed in thefire-alarm system-a signal indicating the exact location of a fire or asignal communicating any desired information may be displayed.

In order that the signal may be made automatic in its action, it mightbe connected with a gong, 40, through the medium of a circuitbreaker,ll, one arm of said circuit-breaker being connected to thesupporting-arm of the gong by a connecting-rod, as 42, so that whenasignal is rung upon the gong the current will be correspondingly brokenat the breaker 4:1 and the signal will be flashed by the light 30.

I Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosoon re by Letters Patent- 1. The combinatiomwith theinain fire-alarmcircuit a a, of the main circuit-breaker 20, forming a shunt, theextended circuit 0 c, the incandescent lamp 30 included in the latter,the local circuit, and the breakingkey 17, all connected and operatingsubstantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the automaticallyoperated gong 40, the automaticcircuitbreaker 4:1, and rod =12 connecting them with the localcircuit 1) Z1, main-circuit breaker 20, main circuit a a, extended maincircuit 0 c, and incandescent lamp 30, all as shown and described.

W'ILLIAM HENRY Tl-IOllIPSON. Witnesses:

ED'WARD KENT, Jr., C. Snnewrou.

